Matthews knows Del Rio is susceptible to mistakes, but still thinks he has a chance to flourish.

"Can the play-caller trust the quarterback to make good decisions?" Matthews said. "He's not going to play perfect. He's going to make mistakes, he's going to throw interceptions. That's just part of the job, but can (offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier) rely on him to be a consistent player?"

Matthews is sure about one thing with the new starting quarterback: "I think you'll see the Florida offense take shots with Luke Del Rio when we're at midfield, maybe a change of possession after a bad punt by the opponent or a turnover."

What advice does Matthews, a two-time SEC MVP, have for the Gators' starter?

"He's got a good team around him," Matthews said. "He's got a great head coach that understands offensive football. He just needs to go out and not try to do too much, let the playmakers around him help him be successful."